Can My Dog Eat Vanilla Ice Cream?

Maybe. Ice cream isn’t a dog-friendly food, but vanilla ice cream might be the safest flavor to share with your dog. First, keep in mind that some dogs are lactose intolerant and should never have ice cream. Second, most ice cream is loaded with sugar, which dogs absolutely don’t need in their diet. Low-sugar ice cream, on the other hand, usually contains artificial sweeteners, which are probably worse for dogs than the sugar they’re replacing. (Xylitol, for one, is toxic.) In other words, your dog is better off without ice cream. But if you do want to share your desert, keep it to a small amount of vanilla ice cream once in a blue moon.

For More Information

We offer a collection of articles on foods that are healthy or dangerous for dogs to eat, covering everything from grains, fruits, and vegetables. You might also be interested in reading “Can My Dog Eat Chocolate Ice Cream?“

The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

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About Cecily Sailer

Cecily Sailer runs creative writing programs for the Austin Public Library Friends Foundation. She earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Houston and reviews books for The Dallas Morning News. Cecily is also the proud momma of two hounds, Henry and Mabel, but Wony the Pug was her first dog love.